Machine foe spreading ends of headers or tubes



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. P; HIGGINS. MAGEINE FOR SPREADING ENDS 0F HEADERS OR TUBES..

No. 524,324. Patented Aug. 14, 1894.

3 Sheets-Sheet- 2.

(No Model.)

G. P. HIGGINS. MACHINE FOR'SPREADING ENDS 0P HEADERS 0R TUBES.

Patented A g. 14, 1 894.

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(No Model.) 3 Shets-Sheet 3-. G. P. HIGGINS.

MACHINE FOR SPREADING ENDS 0P HEADERS 0R TUBES. No. 524,324. Patented Aug .-14 1894.

w vtmaoseo UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OAMPBELL P. HIGGINS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MACHINE FOR SPREADINGENDS OF HEADERS v() RTU BES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 524,324, dated August 14, I894.

. Application filed July 5, 1892. Serial 'No. 439,064, (No model.)

' To all whom it may concern.-

in position upon a stand 0,

Be it known that I, CAMPBELL P. HIGGINS, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Spreading thelEnds of Headers or Tubes, of which the following is a specification.

The invention is designed to be used in the manufacture of headers for sectional steam boilers, but may be employed'in other metallic boxes which are made froma tube of any cross-sectional form.

The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus adapted to expand the open ends of the tubes when heated preparatory to insorting and welding the ends for closing the same; and in order that others may under 'standand use the invention, I will first pro- 20- ceed to describe the construction and operation of a machine embodying it and subsequently point out in the claims its novel features.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1n whlch snnilar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several viewsz-Figure l, is a general elevation, showing two expanders, and the apparatus for manipulating the same; and Fig. 2, an end elevation of Fig. 1. Fig. 3, is a partial elevationshowing the parts in Fig. 1, in the post tion of insertion into the ends of the tube. Fig. 4, is an enlarged section taken on the line m-m, Fig. 5, showing. one of the expanders in detail. Fig. 5, is an end elevation of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6, is a cross-section taken on the line yy,Fig. 4; and Fig. 7, a similar section showing the parts closed.

A, A, Figs. 1 and 2, represent the expanders which for convenience are employed in duplicate,the one facing the other, adapted for simultaneous insertion into both extremities of the header or tube B, which is placed for the purpose. The flexible connections for supporting the expanders A, above the stand will be more fully hereinafter described.

Reference now being made to Figs. 4, to 7, inclusive, the mechanism of the expander A, consistsas fo1lows:-Upon the body A, A, of the expander are four jaws 2, 2, 2, 2, pivoted at 9. The working faces 3, of the jaws 2, cor

the hydraulic cylinder 6.

- of the four sides of the quadrangle equally whenexpanded. Between the jaws 2, there is inserted a pyramidal steel wedge 4, act1ng on the interior faces of the said jaws, and

the said wedge 4:, is actuated by a ram 5, in 7 To the ram 5 are connected one or more retracting plungers 7, operating in the respective cylinders 8. The heels 10, of the jaws 2, are acted on by hydraulic plungers 11, which serve to contract the jaws 2, when the ram 5, and wedge 1, are retracted. All of the plungers thus described are suitably packed to be operated hydraulically, and passages and suitable means are provided for the admission and ed notion of the water. A pipe.15, is provided for the ad'- mission and eduction of the actuating fluid I for the expanding ram 5; suitable connecting passages'15 beingindioated; and a p1pe16 1s provided for the admission and eduction of the actuating fluid for the retracting plungers 7, and 11, also provided with suitable passages 16.

22, 22, are rotary water oints of any. suit- .able or usual construction.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the stocks 20, bearing the expanders A, are suspended and counter balanced so as to be maintained in all positions in a horizontal direction upon flexible connections, which consist in the bars 25, and water pipes 15, 16, jointed to the horizontal bar 27, aud'pipes 28. A parallel motion is thus established, and the dlstance ,apart of the expanders A, A, is regulated by a screw rod 29, pivotally connected to the pipes 15, 16. The pipe sections 15, 16 are flexibly connected to the sections 28, by water collars 30, similar to those hereinbefore referred to. The middle section 31, of the pipe 28, is closed or composed of a solid bar, and the induction and eduction of the re spective expanders independently eifected through pairs of pipes 32.

The horizontal bar 27, of the operating frame is suspended upon chains 83, from a suitable overhead crane; each chain being connected over pulleys to a hydraulic operat-' ing cylinder 35, whereby the apparatus is raised or lowered and elevated out of the way when not in use.- Suitable valves and flexible connections are provided for supplying the pipes 32, and operating the cylinder 35, from any convenient position.

The spreading operation upon the end of the tube B, is preferably performed after the header has been corrugated by means of suitable mechanism,in to the serpentine form indicated. The tube, after being heated, or

while still hot from the staggering press, is placed in position upon the stand 0, and the expanding apparatus at the position indicated in Fig. 1, is lowered by means of the cylinder 35, and the expanders A, A, when aligned with the ends of the tube are advanced by rotating the crank the jaws 2, being preparatorily contracted for insertion. Pressure is then applied to the rams 5, expanding the jaws radially into each corner of the open end of the header, producing a flared mouth of suitable size to receive the end piece which is to be placed and welded into it.

In the use of this invention, it is obvious that the expanding devices may be connected with a fixed frame Work and, operated upon guide ways in lieu of the suspended frame work shown without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device for spreading tube ends,a series of radially movable jaws, a wedge adapted to expand the jaws, and a ram for advancing and retracting the wedge, substantially as described.

2. In a device for spreading tube ends, a series of radially movable pivoted jaws, an

expanding ram acting on the jaws within the pivots, and a series of rams for retracting the jaws, without the pivots, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus for spreading tube ends,

a pair of expanders arranged to operate at opposite ends of the tube and connected means external to the tube for separating or advancing the expanders toward the tube ends.

4. An apparatus for spreading tube ends, comprising a pair of expanding devices and means for drawing them toward one another simultaneously at opposite ends of the tube, and hydraulic rams with flexibly jointed tubing for conducting the fluid thereto, con-' nected to the expanding devices for operating the same asset forth.

5. An apparatus -for spreading tube ends, consisting of a pair of expanding devices, arranged to move in a plane with the tube,and connected with hydraulic rams for operating the same suspended by the pressure pipes 

